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No, the All-State Quarterback School
is not a camp where only the best quarterbacks are recruited and come together.
This is not a camp where national exposure is a priority nor is its focus securing
college scholarships. This camp makes no promises except to make its participants
better quarterbacks and better young men!
The goal of founder
Terry Copacia's All-State Quarterback school is to teach the fundamentals of successful
quarterbacking, including proper footwork mechanics, throwing motion and effective
leadership skills.
Ultimately Copacia stresses hard work
for his camp's participants to ensure them a successful final year in high school.
"At the conclusion of every camp in the summer, I end the camp trying to instill
in each and every quarterback the goal of having a great senior year. Most high
school athletes make their best friends and learn many valuable lessons about
life in their senior year." These goals, Copacia believes, are both realistic
and useful.
Copacia leaves the college evaluations to the
bigger college camps or the more so-called "elite" camps, which he believes do
more evaluating than actual coaching. "I have great respect for quarterback "gurus"
in America today who run clinics and academies." However, Copacia believes, these
camps often are simply ego builders for both coach and quarterback. Most attendees
of his camps are not blue chip athletes. "I coach kids who don't always have the fastest
feet. I coach kids who are trying to throw a consistent spiral and throw with
more power. I coach kids who aspire to achieve a starting position on their junior
or senior high football teams. These are the kind of kids I want—kids with
the same determination that I have."
Terry Copacia, a high
school government teacher, coached at Eisenhower High School in Metropolitan Detroit,
where he has served as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for past twenty-seven
years. His quarterbacks have thrown for over 45,000 yards and 394 touchdowns in
the last 24 seasons. "Our quarterbacks know that they will receive recognition
only if they do what it takes to help their respective team win." He works with
quarterbacks in a way that he wishes he had been coached. "I don't hide the fact
that I wasn't a superstar in high school or in college nor did I play pro ball.
Since, I have learned practical techniques that I wish I had known when I was
a young man. This is what I want to share with quarterbacks."
The
inception of Terry Copacia's All-State Quarterback School began in 1992 when he
approached his local parks and recreation department about starting a quarterback
camp. When their reply was that he simply wanted a venue from which to recruit,
Copacia's determination to begin a school for aspiring quarterbacks increased
ten-fold.
Twelve years later Terry Copacia has his own one-man
company, The All-State Quarterback School, Inc. He has personally coached 7 All-State
quarterbacks since 1988 (In addition to many others who have attended Copacia's
summer instructional schools). Most notably Craig Krenzel who led the Ohio State
Buckeyes to a National Championship. The only other D1 quarterback was Joe Youngblood,
who starred at Central Michigan University. Fifteen quarterbacks have participated
in collegiate football at either Division I, II or III schools since 1988.
Copacia's
All-State Quarterback School has now blossomed into an "endless summer." He personally
conducts seven two-day camps in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Washington and Colorado.
"My schedule has become pretty hectic. Beginning each June and ending in mid July,
I personally orchestrate every aspect of every one of my camps." In addition,
Copacia conducts group and private training sessions throughout the year. "I regularly
have parents who drive or fly hundreds of miles for private tutoring."Copacia
has worked with quarterbacks from many regions of the country. "I find that many
quarterbacks don't know what to practice. They erroneously think that playing
catch with someone will make them better. I provide them with practice routines,
including both footwork drills and throwing drills."
Copacia
makes it clear that while he provides routines and suggestions that can be beneficial,
quarterbacks should consult their coaches before embarking on a new routine. "I
make it clear that the number one person in a quarterback's athletic life is his
coach - not me. I just want participants to leave the session with a practice
routine, an improved throwing motion and a better feeling about themselves both
on and off the football field."
No promises, just learning
to be a better quarterback and a better person.
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PRIVATE TRAINING 
Winter/Spring
